Nancy Richardson
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Nancy E. (Turner) Richardson passed away April 19, 2013, after losing a third battle with cancer that she fought with great courage.
Nancy spent her childhood in Texas, the daughter of Drexyle H. and Margaret (Reamer) Turner. She was born on June 18, 1936 in Ft. Worth, rode her first horse in Midland, and delivered the commencement address for her senior class at St. Stephen’s Episcopal High School in Austin.
She graduated with a B.A. in English from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, spending four memorable and happy years there, fashioning lifelong friendships, and she earned an M.A. in English from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Nancy married Gaylord E. Richardson in St. Louis on June 24, 1961, and accompanied her husband when he moved to New York City in 1964 to work as an architect. She enjoyed the big city and found its cultural offerings a great stimulus. She and Gaylord briefly returned to St. Louis in 1973 before establishing their home in Lawrence in 1975, upon Gaylord’s taking a position as Assistant Professor with the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design.
Nancy pursued a variety of careers when not busy raising her two children. She taught English at Cleveland High School in St Louis and Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri, served as Director of Adult Education for the Girl Scouts of St. Louis, worked as a nurses’ aide at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, and retired in 2010 as a library assistant at the Hatch Resource Center of the Kansas University School of Architecture, Design and Planning. She was responsible for managing the Hatch collection of books, periodicals, and other reference materials at the Center. She genuinely loved working in the Hatch Resource Center and was known as a kind and resourceful manager, sharing her enthusiasm for the information available with both students and faculty.
Nancy loved books! She was a voracious reader. She loved learning, travel, family holidays, animals, collecting pitchers, a good mystery novel, listening to BBC and public radio, and an occasional glass of port. She enjoyed humor and an evening with friends, particularly, one providing the occasion for a well-told story. She was engaging, making friends easily, endlessly curious, deeply compassionate, and a kind and loving mother and grandmother. She will be profoundly and painfully missed.
Nancy’s bouts with cancer led her to participate in many support activities. She attended Bosom Buddies, participated in Relay for Life, and the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Cancer Support Group. She volunteered for the Lawrence Public Library, supported the Lawrence Humane Society, participated in the KU Endowment’s Endacott Society, and was a member of the Older Women’s League, or OWLs, serving on their Board until her illness prevented her from continuing.
She is survived by her husband, Gaylord, her daughter, Paula E.E. Richardson of Davenport, Iowa, her son, Aaron J. B. Richardson and daughter-in-law, Debra Kaufman, of Berkeley, California, and her two grandchildren, Laurel Richardson and Evan Richardson. She is also survived by her brother, Drexel Turner of Ft. Myers, Florida, and his family.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the nursing staff of the Transitional and Palliative Care Unit of Lawrence Memorial Hospital for their abundant kindness and sustaining attention during her last month of life.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2013, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Private interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Employee Care Fund, LMH Employee Education Fund, and the Lawrence Humane Society, and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
You always treated me like a son, even though you never had to.
Our hearts are aching with pain to think we will not hear your loving, kind and encouraging voice any more. We will miss you very much. We will continue to fight the fight and live life to the fullest just like how you showed us Nancy! Till we meet again!
Nancy was the embodiment of a ’good-hearted woman’ and I will miss her immensely. She brought joy, compassion, and laughter to every life she touched.
Brother to Nancy Richardson.
My thoughts are with you during this sad time. Nancy was such a sweet and kind woman and I know she will be greatly missed my many.
She was so sweet. I have some wonderful childhood memories. Paula my heart aches for you and you and your family are in my prayers.
Gaylord and Family,
I was so saddened to hear of Nancy’s passing. She was a wonderful friend who had the biggest heart. She always had a smile on her face and kind words for everyone. She loved working in the School and being around the students. I will miss her greatly.
Is there nothing Nancy didn’t know or anyone she didn’t know?!? One day she stopped me outside my office in Marvin and said she liked my Vera scarf. I had gotten it as a gift from a vintage shop and had no idea I was wearing a well known designer from the 1950s. She also commented one day on how “regal” I was walking. Boy, she made me and many others feel great about ourselves! She is missed.
Dear Gaylord and Family, Please receive my heartfelt sympathies.
Remembering Nancy’s kindness and her generous heart… whether a recommendation for a new architecture book, or noticing a new haircut, she always had a nice thing to say to everyone around her. Thinking of Nancy- a truly amazing lady.
I am so sorry to learn about Nancy’s passing. She helped me countless times at the library in Marvin Hall. She was a wonderful person.
Gaylord, I am sorry to hear the news of Nancy passing, I really enjoyed her company and participating in a few of the fishing trip adventures we all went on. Always hard to lose a loved one. I hope this time is filled with good memories and family to share them with. We will keep you in our prayers and always there if you need to get out of the house. – Martin
Angie and I will miss our adventures with Nancy. She brought laughter to us all and expanded our world. Gaylord, our thoughts are with you and your family.
Gaylord, I am thinking of you and your family, and am very sorry for your loss. Nancy was so kind and warm, and made me feel very welcome when I arrived at KU. She is missed.
Paula, So very sorry to hear of your loss.
May God comfort you at this sad time.
My thoughts go out to Nancy’s family. I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with Nancy, she was an awesome person who had so much life in her. It is truly sad to know she will not be with us any more. She will be missed!!
Margaret and I send our prayers to you and your family. Nancy will continue to inspire.
Words themselves cannot fully express the sorrow that is felt over the loss of Nancy. As time goes by, you will begin to realize that as you think of her smiles, her affection for family, her laughter, the pain has diminished a bit and you’ll find yourself smiling again. I didn’t know her personally but, having lost someone dear to me, I can empathize with the pain you have and continue to experience. What comfort such scriptures as John 5:28,29 brought me! You will read there about the promise Jesus gave of resurrecting our loved ones back to life. When he resurrected His friend Lazarus back to life, He showed his ability and desire to fulfill that promise. ( John 11:38-44 ) Can you just imagine the joy Lazarus’ sisters felt when they held him in their arms once again? This joy we too will feel in the very near future. Until that day comes, we have the promise that God will draw close to those whose hearts have been broken ( Psalms 34:18 ) I truly hope these few scriptures have helped lessen the pain you feel as they had mine.
I take great joy in my memories of Nancy. She was a kind and patient soul, wise and yet young. My deepest condolences to the Richardson family in this time.
Nancy was such a force of positve and efficient energy. She was always a welcome addition to any conversation or project. She will be greatly missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with you Paula and your family. Celebrate her life. Remember all she taught you and all the good times. They will bring comfort, smiles and laughter.
One of my favorite memories is identical t shirts with “Fishing Goddess” on the front. We tried over and over to live up to that title! I’ll take rose petals to Bennett next trip. I’ll miss you, sweet friend, forever.
Gaylord we are thinking of you and your family. I was thinking of the last time Nancy was in the deli greeting everyone that came in. I think everyone thought she worked there. She was a true sweetheart.
Such a wonderful person.Our love goes out to Gaylord and the whole family.
We will fondly remember our visits with Nancy, particularly the fun and laughter during an ’afternoon English tea’ at our house. Nancy wore a wonderful hat for the occasion and the merryment and joy of that afternoon will be an eduringly pleasant memory.
I am very sorry for your loss. I worked with Nancy for a couple of years at the Architecture Library and she was truely a loving, helpful person. I am truely glad to have had the time we shared together.
Nancy was a wonderful individual. Our biggest regret is that we did not have the opportunity to spend more time with her and Gaylord. However we do have two wonderful grandchildren that we both share. Nancy will always be remembered by all of us.
Wanda was a dear sweet lady…always treated us like “family”! She will truly be missed by her many many friends! So sorry we can’t be there on Saturday, but we send our love to the family and will always keep her memory in our hearts!
Chuck & Sandy (Falwell) Garrett
Wanda was such a joy to both my mother and to myself. When mom was alive, the phone would ring and if mom started laughing, I knew it was a call from Wanda. When Wanda moved away, it was a loss, but such fun when she’d return to visit. Mom had passed when Wanda moved back to Lawrence, but I got to share laughter again with Wanda during my visits with her. Her family was her pride and joy. Love and blessings to all of you.
I must have first met Wanda, when I was in the first grade Sunday School class at White Church Christian. I have many fond White Church memories of Wanda and her lovely family. So blessed to have reconnected with daughter Karen the past few years, and got to see Wanda again. My heartfelt sympathy to the Chauvin family on their loss of the beautiful person they called mother and grandmother.